Mark Annand
@markannand.bsky.social
Born at 313ppm. If it's nearby, enjoy www.twotunnels.org.uk.
"Ghostbusters" 'cos, that clarinet on the sidewalk.
Profile photo credit @confluentious
"Ghostbusters" 'cos, that clarinet on the sidewalk.
Profile photo credit @confluentious
Reposted by Mark Annand
I missed this 6 years ago:
Scotland's £3bn+ A9 road project didn't make financial sense.
But then a bunch of consultants invented a never-before-seen £430m 'driver frustration removal' bonus (SEPARATE to benefits for reduced journey times and collisions).
It changed ROI from -11% to +12%
Cool. 😮💨
Scotland's £3bn+ A9 road project didn't make financial sense.
But then a bunch of consultants invented a never-before-seen £430m 'driver frustration removal' bonus (SEPARATE to benefits for reduced journey times and collisions).
It changed ROI from -11% to +12%
Cool. 😮💨
The A9 dualling project – crucial for Scotland?
An overview of the economic and road safety impact of the project to dual the single carriageway sections of the A9 trunk road between Perth and Inverness.
spice-spotlight.scot
January 18, 2026 at 11:07 AM
I missed this 6 years ago:
Scotland's £3bn+ A9 road project didn't make financial sense.
But then a bunch of consultants invented a never-before-seen £430m 'driver frustration removal' bonus (SEPARATE to benefits for reduced journey times and collisions).
It changed ROI from -11% to +12%
Cool. 😮💨
Scotland's £3bn+ A9 road project didn't make financial sense.
But then a bunch of consultants invented a never-before-seen £430m 'driver frustration removal' bonus (SEPARATE to benefits for reduced journey times and collisions).
It changed ROI from -11% to +12%
Cool. 😮💨
Reposted by Mark Annand
My last two shots before my world went dark.
January 17, 2026 at 9:55 PM
My last two shots before my world went dark.
Reposted by Mark Annand
📽 This shot captures old Los Angeles with Mike Hammer (Ralph Meeker) driving his black C1 Corvette under Angels Flight in #FilmNoir Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
January 15, 2026 at 9:42 PM
📽 This shot captures old Los Angeles with Mike Hammer (Ralph Meeker) driving his black C1 Corvette under Angels Flight in #FilmNoir Kiss Me Deadly (1955)
Reposted by Mark Annand
View from zone 6 Erith over to Rainham.
January 18, 2026 at 2:12 PM
View from zone 6 Erith over to Rainham.
Reposted by Mark Annand
"It is the most shattering experience of a US President‘s life when one morning he awakes and quite reasonably says to himself 'I will never defeat the Dane.'
“When that moment comes, one's ambition ceases."
“When that moment comes, one's ambition ceases."
January 17, 2026 at 9:59 PM
"It is the most shattering experience of a US President‘s life when one morning he awakes and quite reasonably says to himself 'I will never defeat the Dane.'
“When that moment comes, one's ambition ceases."
“When that moment comes, one's ambition ceases."
Reposted by Mark Annand
Greetings from Kyiv,
and from the warmest spot in the apartment (the wardrobe).
-11 °C outside. Spring is wanted.
I’ve just finished writing the Sunday Letter – honest, but not easy to read.
Will send it later.
and from the warmest spot in the apartment (the wardrobe).
-11 °C outside. Spring is wanted.
I’ve just finished writing the Sunday Letter – honest, but not easy to read.
Will send it later.
January 18, 2026 at 11:34 AM
Greetings from Kyiv,
and from the warmest spot in the apartment (the wardrobe).
-11 °C outside. Spring is wanted.
I’ve just finished writing the Sunday Letter – honest, but not easy to read.
Will send it later.
and from the warmest spot in the apartment (the wardrobe).
-11 °C outside. Spring is wanted.
I’ve just finished writing the Sunday Letter – honest, but not easy to read.
Will send it later.
Reposted by Mark Annand
If I were a military superpower concerned my geostrategic adversaries might seize Greenland, I think what I'd do is enter into a military alliance with Denmark, and build a base on the island, so there would be no way for an enemy to take the place without starting a war with me they can't win.
January 18, 2026 at 9:50 AM
If I were a military superpower concerned my geostrategic adversaries might seize Greenland, I think what I'd do is enter into a military alliance with Denmark, and build a base on the island, so there would be no way for an enemy to take the place without starting a war with me they can't win.
Reposted by Mark Annand
Short 🧵 about the structural virtuosity of an anonymous builder in a traditional Maltese courtyard house:
January 17, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Short 🧵 about the structural virtuosity of an anonymous builder in a traditional Maltese courtyard house:
Reposted by Mark Annand
"Color is too real. It’s limiting. It doesn’t allow too much of a dream. Black has depth. You can go into it. The mind kicks in, a lot of things become manifest. And you start seeing what you’re afraid of. You start seeing what you love, and it becomes like a dream."
#DavidLynch
#DavidLynch
January 16, 2026 at 9:43 PM
"Color is too real. It’s limiting. It doesn’t allow too much of a dream. Black has depth. You can go into it. The mind kicks in, a lot of things become manifest. And you start seeing what you’re afraid of. You start seeing what you love, and it becomes like a dream."
#DavidLynch
#DavidLynch
Reposted by Mark Annand
Bewitched by Hamamelis x intermedia
1 'Pallida'
2 'Vesna'
3 'Robert'
4 'Rubin'
5 'Harry'
6 'Orange Peel'
#Hamamelis #ukgardening
1 'Pallida'
2 'Vesna'
3 'Robert'
4 'Rubin'
5 'Harry'
6 'Orange Peel'
#Hamamelis #ukgardening
January 17, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Bewitched by Hamamelis x intermedia
1 'Pallida'
2 'Vesna'
3 'Robert'
4 'Rubin'
5 'Harry'
6 'Orange Peel'
#Hamamelis #ukgardening
1 'Pallida'
2 'Vesna'
3 'Robert'
4 'Rubin'
5 'Harry'
6 'Orange Peel'
#Hamamelis #ukgardening
Reposted by Mark Annand
Truly fascinated by this chart in Faisal Islam’s piece today www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... on the unprecedented decoupling of consumer confidence levels between age cohorts. Really lends something to the theory of the loss of a ‘shared truth’ within a nation and challenges that has for governance.
January 17, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Truly fascinated by this chart in Faisal Islam’s piece today www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... on the unprecedented decoupling of consumer confidence levels between age cohorts. Really lends something to the theory of the loss of a ‘shared truth’ within a nation and challenges that has for governance.
Reposted by Mark Annand
The families of Danes killed in Afghanistan have a message for Trump
www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
The Sacrifice of the Danes
After September 11, Denmark fought alongside its ally. The families of fallen soldiers have a message for Trump.
www.theatlantic.com
January 17, 2026 at 12:58 PM
The families of Danes killed in Afghanistan have a message for Trump
www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Mark Annand
The narrative of exceptional Ukrainian resilience is one of the most harmful tropes I’ve seen during this war.
Yes, we refuse to give up. Yes, we have picnics in -15°C. Yes, we keep living, drinking coffee, and even laughing occasionally, but all of this stems from a lack of choice.
Yes, we refuse to give up. Yes, we have picnics in -15°C. Yes, we keep living, drinking coffee, and even laughing occasionally, but all of this stems from a lack of choice.
January 17, 2026 at 4:02 PM
The narrative of exceptional Ukrainian resilience is one of the most harmful tropes I’ve seen during this war.
Yes, we refuse to give up. Yes, we have picnics in -15°C. Yes, we keep living, drinking coffee, and even laughing occasionally, but all of this stems from a lack of choice.
Yes, we refuse to give up. Yes, we have picnics in -15°C. Yes, we keep living, drinking coffee, and even laughing occasionally, but all of this stems from a lack of choice.
Reposted by Mark Annand
Cromer (Northrepps) Airfield - taking off from a snow covered runway in north Norfolk. One minute video. #CromerAirfield #Northrepps #snow #Skyranger #video
January 17, 2026 at 11:15 AM
Cromer (Northrepps) Airfield - taking off from a snow covered runway in north Norfolk. One minute video. #CromerAirfield #Northrepps #snow #Skyranger #video
Reposted by Mark Annand
Reposted by Mark Annand
A child has just picked up a book and said "I don't know the words to this one", a practice I may adopt in the future.
January 17, 2026 at 11:59 AM
A child has just picked up a book and said "I don't know the words to this one", a practice I may adopt in the future.
Reposted by Mark Annand
Regional names for alleyways…
January 17, 2026 at 9:51 AM
Regional names for alleyways…
Reposted by Mark Annand
This discovery is shedding light on how and why birds evolved, and whether they evolved powered flight just once or many times during the age of the dinosaurs
go.nature.com/49pD9YF
go.nature.com/49pD9YF
How did birds evolve? The answer is wilder than anyone thought
Nature - Discoveries in Jurassic rocks reveal that birds were adept fliers earlier than scientists realized.
go.nature.com
January 17, 2026 at 12:07 PM
This discovery is shedding light on how and why birds evolved, and whether they evolved powered flight just once or many times during the age of the dinosaurs
go.nature.com/49pD9YF
go.nature.com/49pD9YF
Reposted by Mark Annand
Never far from my mind, this poem.
January 17, 2026 at 12:10 PM
Never far from my mind, this poem.
Reposted by Mark Annand
Resharing some threads below. Apologies if it's boring for those who've seen them. When people enjoy the captions and pics I've posted in these and share them, more people read my books and it helps me repair things in the aftermath of a publishing disaster.
1. Sheep.
bsky.app/profile/dj-a...
1. Sheep.
bsky.app/profile/dj-a...
THREAD. A collection of photographs of excellent sheep I have met on walks.
You will find the captions to each photo in the alt text.
You will find the captions to each photo in the alt text.
January 17, 2026 at 9:20 AM
Resharing some threads below. Apologies if it's boring for those who've seen them. When people enjoy the captions and pics I've posted in these and share them, more people read my books and it helps me repair things in the aftermath of a publishing disaster.
1. Sheep.
bsky.app/profile/dj-a...
1. Sheep.
bsky.app/profile/dj-a...
Reposted by Mark Annand
A week and a bit into the job search, so obviously going to keep re-upping this. Pretty sure that this is the worst time of year to be looking for jobs in my area, but if you are looking for a Comms, policy, advocacy person, or know someone who is, please do let me know or share.
1/4
1/4
Sadly it is official, my current employment contract finishes at the end of March. It has been a fantastic three years at Migrant Voice. If you, or someone you know, knows of job opportunities for an experienced policy, advocacy and comms person, across multiple sectors, please do let me know.
January 17, 2026 at 9:22 AM
A week and a bit into the job search, so obviously going to keep re-upping this. Pretty sure that this is the worst time of year to be looking for jobs in my area, but if you are looking for a Comms, policy, advocacy person, or know someone who is, please do let me know or share.
1/4
1/4
Reposted by Mark Annand
I love that the literal translation of escalator into Irish is “living stairs”
January 17, 2026 at 9:35 AM
I love that the literal translation of escalator into Irish is “living stairs”
“I’m a geologist in a discordant throng...”
Returning to this lyric and thinking... Sweet Billy Pilgrim.
Returning to this lyric and thinking... Sweet Billy Pilgrim.
January 17, 2026 at 11:56 AM
“I’m a geologist in a discordant throng...”
Returning to this lyric and thinking... Sweet Billy Pilgrim.
Returning to this lyric and thinking... Sweet Billy Pilgrim.
Reposted by Mark Annand
Explain to me how this would happen.
The fucking mechanics of it. Explain them to me.
Russia or China, storming the beaches of an EU and NATO member state terrotiry which includes a fucking US military base on it in a take and hold maneuver a bazillion miles from their nearest supply lines?
The fucking mechanics of it. Explain them to me.
Russia or China, storming the beaches of an EU and NATO member state terrotiry which includes a fucking US military base on it in a take and hold maneuver a bazillion miles from their nearest supply lines?
January 16, 2026 at 10:19 PM
Explain to me how this would happen.
The fucking mechanics of it. Explain them to me.
Russia or China, storming the beaches of an EU and NATO member state terrotiry which includes a fucking US military base on it in a take and hold maneuver a bazillion miles from their nearest supply lines?
The fucking mechanics of it. Explain them to me.
Russia or China, storming the beaches of an EU and NATO member state terrotiry which includes a fucking US military base on it in a take and hold maneuver a bazillion miles from their nearest supply lines?